UFO Potpourri No 317

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO POTPOURRI
Issue: no. 317
Date: Sunday, June 28, 1987
Publisher: The Houston Post
Country: USA
Document Type: Magazine Issue

British Jetliner Reports UFO Over Soviet Union

A British Airways jetliner made a diversion over the Soviet Union to avoid what the crew reported as an unidentified flying object (UFO). The incident, which occurred in April, was reported by The Times of London. Alan Solloway, an airline spokesman, confirmed that the crew of a Boeing 747 jumbo jet reported seeing a UFO on April 22 while flying from London to Bangkok, Thailand. Solloway stated this was the first such case in the airline's history, noting that while crews have reported seeing space debris, they have not previously logged an event as a UFO. Howard Miles, director of the artificial satellite section of the British Astronomical Association, suggested the crew might have seen a satellite re-entering the atmosphere, but noted that satellites typically burn up at a much higher altitude than the aircraft was flying. First Officer Anthony Colin described the object as having twinkling lights and flying directly toward them before vanishing over the horizon, stating, "It was definitely not an aircraft... None of us had ever seen anything like it before. We are all bitter, cynical aviators who like a scientific explanation for everything. But this has got us foxed."

Poland's Army Paper Reports UFO Sightings

Poland's official army newspaper, Zolnierz Wolnosci (Soldier of Freedom), reported that several military pilots spotted mysterious objects flying silently over the country at high speeds. The newspaper asked readers to report any similar incidents.

One pilot described seeing a plane passing about 60 yards below, trailing bright fire, but without the expected roar of a jet engine. Another military pilot reported an object sailing eastwards at an altitude of some 600 yards, moving without sound and appearing physically impossible.

A third incident from July 1983 involved two pilots who received orders to intercept an airborne object. A Lieutenant Marek J. described the object as an oblong cylinder that seemed to toy with his jet fighter before speeding out of sight.

Visits by UFOs Hot Topic Again

New books are stirring interest in the topic of UFOs, with three respected publishing houses releasing titles on the subject: "Intruders" by Budd Hopkins, "Light Years" by Gary Kinder, and "Communion" by Whitley Strieber. Publishers report strong sales for these books.

Supposedly official documents alleging government cover-ups of UFO visits have also circulated, which skeptics claim are hoaxes. UFO researchers, however, insist they are evidence of a "cosmic Watergate." Budd Hopkins interviewed over 140 people who claimed to have been abducted by aliens and subjected to medical experiments. Critics like science writer Phillip Klass dismiss these claims as delusions and have offered rewards for confirmed reports to the FBI, which have not been claimed. Elisa beth Scharlatt of Random House defended the abductees as ordinary individuals who felt stigmatized.

Hopkins noted that many abductees described their captors inserting a large needle with a metal ball into their noses, and drawings of aliens done after hypnosis were consistently similar, depicting bubble-shaped heads with large oval eyes.

A controversial document, distributed at a UFO conference, refers to a strange aircraft crash near Roswell, N.M., on July 7, 1947, and a secret government team called "Majestic 12" probing UFO reports. The document details the ejection and death of four small human-like beings from the craft. Phillip Klass debunked this document as a hoax, suggesting the craft was a radar-testing device hoisted by a balloon.

Plane's Close Encounter Still Mystery

The National Weather Service and the Defense Department have offered no explanation for an object that encountered a Delta Air Lines jet at 29,500 feet. The pilot of Delta Flight 1083 described the object as a rocket or missile about 4 feet long with fins, which passed by the jet at high speed.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated it will likely never identify the object. Spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen suggested it might have been a blimp-shaped helium balloon, but noted that the jet stream was not active in the area at the time, making a fast-moving unpowered object unlikely. The Pentagon stated they had no relevant operations at the time. The FAA's official explanation is a promotional balloon that escaped, though Bergen preferred not to discuss other possibilities, stating, "Balloons can travel pretty far. We don't acknowledge the existence of UFOs."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFO Potpourri focuses on recent UFO sightings and encounters, highlighting reports from commercial airlines, military pilots, and civilian aircraft. It also delves into the ongoing debate surrounding UFO phenomena, including the role of new books, alleged government cover-ups, and the scientific community's skepticism versus believer accounts. The publication appears to present these reports without explicit endorsement but provides details and quotes from various sources, including eyewitnesses and researchers, suggesting an open-minded approach to the subject matter while also including debunking perspectives.